Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas is back in the West End this Christmas, with her exciting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) adventures in Santa’s workshop – and an Olivier Award nomination for Best Family Show!
Maddie, best known from CBeebies and YouTube, is on work experience in this winter wonderland, and she’s got her hands full with two hilarious elves: Tinker, the trainee toymaker, and Goggles, the Head of Elf Safety.
But with a busy Christmas season, the workshop is a whirlwind of mishaps! To top it all off, Mrs Claus is on her way for a surprise inspection, and she expects nothing less than perfection!
With the clock ticking, Maddie and her young audience must use science, curiosity, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic to help Tinker and Goggles fix the workshop in time for Mrs Claus’ big visit.
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| Maddie Moate. Photo by Mark Senior |
Packed with festive fun, hands-on experiments, and plenty of giggles, this family-friendly show is the perfect Christmas treat for kids and grown-ups as they work together to save the holiday season!
We caught up with Maddie ahead of the run.
Firstly, congratulations on the Olivier Award nomination for last year's run! Can you share what first inspired the show?
Thank you! I was given the chance to create a science show for the Christmas holidays, and I instantly felt inspired to make something more than just a line-up of cool experiments. I wanted a festive story with heart, wrapped around lovable characters.
Thank you! I was given the chance to create a science show for the Christmas holidays, and I instantly felt inspired to make something more than just a line-up of cool experiments. I wanted a festive story with heart, wrapped around lovable characters.
I’ve always adored panto and musicals, but I’d never seen a science show that borrowed those same interactive, musical, family-friendly elements. So I set out to make something new—something that blends a bit of everything!
How have you approached returning to the show after such success last year?
We’re really fortunate to have the same cast and crew returning for 2025. We had such a fun time on the show last year—it honestly feels a bit like a family reunion! This year everything feels much more settled as we all know what to expect, but we’ve also learned a lot from the experience. So we’re making small tweaks here and there to raise the bar as much as we can!
We’re really fortunate to have the same cast and crew returning for 2025. We had such a fun time on the show last year—it honestly feels a bit like a family reunion! This year everything feels much more settled as we all know what to expect, but we’ve also learned a lot from the experience. So we’re making small tweaks here and there to raise the bar as much as we can!
The story centres around Santa's workshop, which sounds like a lot of fun. What do you think makes a good Christmas story?
I think Christmas stories need to be full of heart and hope, with a few classic festive characters sprinkled in. All the Christmas tales I grew up with involved the heroes helping to “save Christmas” in one way or another—and our show is no different. It’s ultimately about an outsider (me!) teaming up with her new friends (the audience and the elves) to work together and get Christmas back on track!
I think Christmas stories need to be full of heart and hope, with a few classic festive characters sprinkled in. All the Christmas tales I grew up with involved the heroes helping to “save Christmas” in one way or another—and our show is no different. It’s ultimately about an outsider (me!) teaming up with her new friends (the audience and the elves) to work together and get Christmas back on track!
You work across TV, YouTube and the stage - what excites you or what is rewarding about these formats?
All of these formats are exciting in their own way. But what I loved most about working on this theatre production was writing the show at home and then seeing those pages come to life in rehearsals. It was incredibly satisfying to watch my words on paper being brought to life by the actors, and to see the creative team add their own expertise to the ideas I’d imagined.
All of these formats are exciting in their own way. But what I loved most about working on this theatre production was writing the show at home and then seeing those pages come to life in rehearsals. It was incredibly satisfying to watch my words on paper being brought to life by the actors, and to see the creative team add their own expertise to the ideas I’d imagined.
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| Zain Abrahams, Maddie Moate and Kira MacCarter. Photo by Mark Senior |
What gets your creativity flowing? What do you do when you're feeling stuck?
When I’m feeling stuck, I like to chat with friends or family about whatever idea is tripping me up. Sometimes just saying the problem out loud makes it feel so much more manageable. Going for a walk helps too—and if I’m working at my desk, putting on some themed music can really get me back into the right headspace.
When I’m feeling stuck, I like to chat with friends or family about whatever idea is tripping me up. Sometimes just saying the problem out loud makes it feel so much more manageable. Going for a walk helps too—and if I’m working at my desk, putting on some themed music can really get me back into the right headspace.
What can parents do to encourage and support their children's curiosity and interest in STEM?
Sometimes it helps to remember that, at its heart, science is just about observing the world, noticing things, asking questions, and finding answers. Nurturing these qualities in children can feel much less intimidating than thinking you have to set up messy experiments at home or visit every science museum (though those are fantastic too!).
Sometimes it helps to remember that, at its heart, science is just about observing the world, noticing things, asking questions, and finding answers. Nurturing these qualities in children can feel much less intimidating than thinking you have to set up messy experiments at home or visit every science museum (though those are fantastic too!).
Even just encouraging questions, exploring answers together, and celebrating curiosity at home can be incredibly valuable.
When you were young, what ignited your interest in STEM?
For me, it all started with a sense of adventure and a love of nature, which I got from both of my parents. I’ve always been incredibly curious and loved taking things apart just to see how they worked—it was my first taste of hands-on science!
For me, it all started with a sense of adventure and a love of nature, which I got from both of my parents. I’ve always been incredibly curious and loved taking things apart just to see how they worked—it was my first taste of hands-on science!
What are your favourite Christmas traditions?
When I was little, I adored Christmas Eve. Laying out stockings, leaving a carrot for Rudolph, and a mince pie for Father Christmas always felt utterly magical. Those little rituals made the holiday feel extra special.
When I was little, I adored Christmas Eve. Laying out stockings, leaving a carrot for Rudolph, and a mince pie for Father Christmas always felt utterly magical. Those little rituals made the holiday feel extra special.
What is your favourite Christmas song?
Definitely “The Science Song” from Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas—you can even listen to it on YouTube! That said, a bit of classic Mariah never goes amiss either!
Definitely “The Science Song” from Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas—you can even listen to it on YouTube! That said, a bit of classic Mariah never goes amiss either!
What was the first piece of theatre which has a big impact on you?
The first musical I remember seeing was Joseph and His Technicolour Dreamcoat. I absolutely loved watching the children on stage and instantly wanted to be one of them! I also saw Cats in the round and was completely mesmerised by the staging and the costumes—it felt magical.
The first musical I remember seeing was Joseph and His Technicolour Dreamcoat. I absolutely loved watching the children on stage and instantly wanted to be one of them! I also saw Cats in the round and was completely mesmerised by the staging and the costumes—it felt magical.
If you could describe Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas in just three words, what would you say?
Funny, interactive, and festive!
Funny, interactive, and festive!
Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas runs at the Garrick Theatre in London from Friday 12th December until Sunday 4th January 2026. Tickets are available from https://thegarricktheatre.co.uk/tickets/maddie-moates-very-curious-christmas/
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| Zain Abrahams, Maddie Moate and Kira MacCarter. Photo by Mark Senior |
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